Incubator



L. A. BROWN.

INCUBATOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG- 9, 192l- Patented May 2,1922.

LUCIUS A. BROWN, OF CLAY CENTER, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOB. TO THE M. M. JOHNSON COMPANY, OF CLAY CENTER, NEBRASKA, A CORPORATION OF NEBRASKA.

INGUBATOR.

Application filed August 9, 1921.

To all whom it may-concern.

Be it known that I, Looms A. BROWN, a citizen of the United States. residing at Clay Center, in the county of Clay and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incubators, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in incubators and has particular reference to a novel form of tray support by virtue of the special construction of which a number of functions. are most advantage ously subserved.

It may be explained that in incubator constructions it is necessary to provide for the introduction of fresh air into the incubating compartment, and various expedients are resorted to to accomplish this purpose. such as the provision of openings through the walls at different points through which the air is admitted, or the provision of special air conduit opening into the egg compartment. It is likewise prerequisite for moisture to be introduced into this chamber during the hatching process and this is also done in a number of conventional ways.

The primary object of this invention has been to take care of these requirements in a simple manner and by a single device, by utilizing the tray support itself which is so constructed that itwill convey into and evenly distribute the fresh air in the incubator and at the same time carry along with it the proper amount of moisture provided by a suitable source forming a part of the said support. j

The construction. of this support in the provision for the requirements mentioned serves a furth'erdi'stinct advantage for devices of this character since a resilient mounting for the egg tray results therefrom, tending to prevent injury to the eggs from sudden jars. These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the novel-construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and claimed. Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of aninoubatorapparatus with its top removed. and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

Serial No. 490,993.

showing the application of my invention thereto. 7

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the tray support forming the subjectmatter of this invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tray support alone.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the moisture producing means used in conjunction with this invention.

Throughout the following detailed description and on the several figures of the drawing, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a conventional form of incubator body, the top thereof as hereinbefore premised being removed, and B the egg tray, one or more of which are mounted within the incubator upon suitable supports therefor. It is customary in providing supports for trays to employ strips of wood upon which the tray is adapted to slide. But in the carrying out of my invention the tray support, which is generally indicated by the reference character C, is formed of a strip of sheet metal of sufficient gauge to serve the purposes for which it is here designed. This strip of metal, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, most clearly has its longitudinal edges rolled over so as to form the lower flange 1 and the upper flange 2, respectively, the distance between which is just sufiicient to easily accommodate the tray B which is slid between the two flanges after the manner disclosed inFigures 1 and 2.

The lower roll lrwill thus provide a resilient support for the heavy egg trays, and. as hereinbefore indicated this is quite desirable in that it servesto absorb the jars to which the incubator may be subjected and which are very undesirable in carrying out thehatching processi The upper rolled flange which, like the lower one, is tubular or cylindrical in form, serves not only as a guide or tray holding means, but in addition thereto this flange acts as a conduit to convey fresh air into the incubator, and for this purpose the metal is so cut that the upper flange 2 is longer than the body portion of the strip as indi cated at 3 so as to project through the rear wall of the incubator and open to atmosphere. At spaced points in the side of the conduit 2 as shown at 4 I provide a series of openings so that the air which enters the tube 2 will pass laterally by way of the openings l over the eggs held by the tray B as well as out through the opposite end oi the conduit which is open for this purpose.

Taking advantage of the construction of the tray support as above described, I employ the conduit 2 for a further purpose, namely, that of holding a moisture producing member or device which is shown most clearly in Figure 5 of the drawing to comprise a trough-like shaped metal holder 5 within which is disposed an absorbent member or wick 6, which latter is held in place within the holder by pinching together the ends of said holder as shown at 7. Ihis moisture-producing element is adapted to be slid into the upper tubular flange 2 throughthe end projecting from the incubator into a position best seen in Figure 3. It will be observed that the edge of the metal strip B, designated 8, is angularly bent toward the central axis of the tube so as to coact with the member 5 to hold it in the position shown.

It will thus be apparent that the tray support forms a unique article of manufacture, which is in the nature of a combination humidifier or ventilating device and tray seat. Once. the strips B are attached in position at opposite sides of the incubator it is a simple matter to arrange the apparatus for the hatching process, this involving no more than removal of the wick holder 5 and moistening the wick and then replacing it within the tube 2 so that as the fresh air is caused to circulate through this tube it will carry along with it moisture and evenly distribute the moist air over the eggs by virtue of the lateral openings t.

It will be understood that it is not essential for the upper flange to: be utilized as the humidifier, so to speak, because it would be substantially as practical to employ the lower one for this purpose, and I therefore do 'not restrict myself in any way to the exact arrangement herein illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an incubator, the combination with a housing, of a tray supporting member constituting a unitary attachment applicable to the wall of the housing, said supporting member having means for conveying air into the egg compartment of said incubator.

2. In an incubator, the combination with a housing, of a tray supporting unit removably attached to the wall of the houstai gate mg and having a part thereof forming an air conduit opening through the wall of said incubator.

3. In an incubator, a tray support having a tubular conduit extending longitudinally thereof above the plane of the egg tray and extending through the wall of the incubator, said conduit opening into the egg compartment above the tray to distribute air over the contents thereof.

l. In an incubator, a tray support comprising a metallic strip having one edge thereof rolled over to form a conduit, one end of which projects through the wall of the incubator to receive fresh air and pass the same into the egg compartment.

5. In an incubator, a tray support comprising a metallic strip having its longi tudinal edges rolled over to form spaced tray-engaging flanges, one of said flanges constituting an air conduit communicating with the atmosphere, and moisture producing means coacting with said support whereby moisture is carried by the air into the egg compartment.

6. In an incubator, a tray support attached to the side thereof, said support having at one of itsedges a substantially cylindrical flange constituting an air con duit open to atmosphere and into the incubator whereby to act as a ventilator, the other edge of said support having also a cylindrical flange constituting resilient trayengaging and sustaining means.

' An incubator attachment of the class described having means for supporting a tray, said attachment having a passage therein adapted to receive moisture producing means, the opening for said passage being so disposed with relation to the incubator as to permit of introduction of said moisture producing means therein from the exterior of the incubator without opening the door thereof.-

8. An incubator attachment of the class described consisting of a tray supporting member applicable to the wall of the incubator at either side thereof, said member having means atone side to sustain a tray and a passage adjacent thereto leading to the exterior of the incubating compartment, and humidiiying means mounted in said passage.

9. An incubator attachment of the class described consisting of a tray supporting member applicable to the wall of the incubator at either side thereof, said member having a tray supporting flange at one side to sustain the tray and an air passage at the opposite side thereof arranged to coact with the tray to form guiding means therefor, and humidifying means mounted in said air passage.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a tray support for incubators comprising a metallic strip having its edges rolled over to form cylindrically spaced tray engaging flanges, one of said flanges constituting an air conduit adapted to project through the wall of an incubator.

11. A combined tray support and humidifier for incubators comprising a unitary member designed to form an attachment adapted to be applied to the interior wall of an incubator, said member including a passage or compartment open to atmosphere in which to receive moisture producing means.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a tray support comprising a strip of metal having a tubular conduit at one side thereof, said conduit having lateral openings adapted to be arranged within the egg compartment of an incubator, and a moisture producing means arranged Within said conduit and readily removable therefrom.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a tray support comprising a strip of metal having a tubular conduit at one side thereof, said conduit having lateral openings adapted to be arranged within the egg compartment of an incubator, and a moisture producing means comprising a wick holder and a wick seated therein, said holder being removably positioned within the conduit.

14. A humidifying device for incubators or the like comprising a support within the incubator and communicating with the outside thereof and having an air passage therein, and a moisture producing means removably positioned within the said air passage and comprising an elongated, trough-like body and an absorbent Wick fixedly secured to said body. I

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

LUCIUS A. BROWN. 

